Posts by Nick Shand

I choose not to ignore Edward Snowden's awe inspiring strength of moral character when deliberating over the quality of the whistle blowing evidence he uses to support his plea. Furthermore the plea is altruistic in nature. Last night he asked kiwis to seek out stronger democratic processes to protect our human rights to privacy and freedom of association with regards to internet communications. I hope the evidence supplied breaches a threshold of suspicion for a vast majority of New Zealand voters, so that no matter who is elected, the value of mass meta data collection is openly debated and voted upon.

Stripping universities of their self-funding student culture will neuter an effective training ground that has through the years provided many with unexpected opportunities for professionally formative education.

Let us hope our students will find fun and creative ways to rise above the ponzi scheme our NZ higher education is becoming.

I predict that the GOP media will now feel that they have over-reached with their vitriol for anything President Obama. For a time atleast we should see a much cleaner conversation representing what amounts for democracy in America.

However if his affiliated large scale pasted wall posters started appearing all around our supercity, as is his TED wish, what would our city officials make of it.

Askew’s predicament has set my mind spinning as it touches upon many ideals dear to my own identity.

Prostituting creative talent within the imposed restraints of an artistically talentless entity tops my list. If an unelected dictator of creative direction and manipulator of local governmental approval required me to paint ‘’people mowing lawns’’ as he did to Askew, I would instantly take my creative energies elsewhere.

Please let us not have no-name people blankly painting over inspired efforts to communicate. Like them or not, these sub-cultured communiques provide something more than ordinary for a community to talk about.